My wife and I have drummed two things into our children:

1. We love and affirm them unconditionally. To us, they are special.

2. No-one in the world thinks they are special, so don't expect special treatment from anyone else. Respect, admiration, and so forth of that kind has to be earned the hard way.

So far, this strategy seems to be paying off. At 12 and 17 they seem pretty well-adjusted. Although they have also inherited my weapons grade cynicism about all things cancel culture, woke, and PC-related, but that's another discussion (my wife says our youngest is the most cyncial 12-year old she's ever met - Hahahahahahaha!).